AT the last Belstone Parish Council meeting I was asked to write to express the views of the council on the proposed closure of the magistrates courthouse at Okehampton.

The council was greatly disturbed that justice, which should be seen to be done, is likely to be sacrificed to an accounting procedure, as this appears to be the only excuse for the exercise.

Far from having the welfare of the population at heart, the truncation of the magisterial service is to be made a sacrificial lamb to produce a paper reduction in costs when in fact the true cost to the country will be immensely increased. But as the increase will not be met by the Exchequer the scheme will be thought to be wonderful.

The Lord Chancellor's department do not have to consider in their balance sheet the hidden costs which they will be passing on to the local community in the form of extra expenses and inconvenience.

The majority of persons coming before the courts as defendants or witnesses do not have access to private transport, neither do villagers have the bus services found in towns. At a time when the Government is actively encouraging the reduction in the use of cars by the means of heavy taxation, rural populations nevertheless will have no option but to get a lift over greater distances than they do at present to reach the current court.

Difficulties will be compounded by this proposed policy. Therefore travelling and other expenses will increase but will not figure in the day to day accounts of the courts. This is not justice for anyone who may be involved.

The magistrates at present serve in their local court, know the community and are known by them. Magistrates with this local knowledge may not be easily found if they have to serve far away, and it is important that people should be seen to be administering justice locally.

The consultation paper reads as if it's been produced by somebody who has had to justify his/her job without regard for justice.

To sum up —quite apart from the accounting procedure that will allow the Lord Chancellor's Department to claim a paper reduction in costs, there is the need to be locally accountable with justice. This council is opposed to the closure of the Okehampton Court.

D J Shott

Clerk to Belstone Parish Council